Ch 8: The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy Flashcards
federal bureaucracy
the thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs
spoils system
replacing cabinet members with people based on relationships
patronage
jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support
merit system
replacing cabinet members with people based on qualifications
Pendleton Act
reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission
civil service system
the merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected
independent regulatory commission
an entity created by Congress outside a major executive department
departments
major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations
Independent executive agencies
governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet department, but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions
government corporations
businesses established by Congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide
Hatch Act
prohibits civil servants from taking activist roles in party campaigns
implementation
the process by which a law or policy is put into operation
iron triangles
relationships between government agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees
issue networks
the loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas
interagency councils
working groups created to facilitate coordination of policy making and implementation across a host of governmental agencies
policy coordinating committees
sub-cabinet level committees created to facilitate interactions between agencies and departments to handle complex policy problems
administrative discretion
the ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or executive intentions
rule making
a quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act
regulations
rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law
administrative adjudication
a quasi-judicial process in which a bureaucratic agency settles disputes between two parties in a manner similar to the way courts resolve disputes
